Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweet Gum - €20 per plant

Sweetgums are handsome trees with a pyramidal canopy when young that brings an interesting shape to the forest garden, eventually becoming rounded with age. They make excellent ornamental trees, known for their amazing autumn colours -  some of the best that there are to be seen. A fast-growing and long lived tree, it is fairly free from pests and diseases and has the potential to behave like a pioneer tree in cutover lands. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Eastern N. America 
  • native habitat: Swampy woods which are often inundated annually and on rich bottom lands
  • family: Hamamelidaceae

Pest and Predators

  • None known​​​

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun, semi shade
  • soil pH: Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 -9​
  • Prefers moist, well drained soil

Known hazards 


  • None known

Overview


  • Deciduous Tree growing to 25 m by 15 m at a fast rate ​
  • It is in flower in May
  • Seeds ripen September - October
  • The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant)
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soil
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils
  • It can grow in full sun or semi shade
  •  It prefers moist, well drained soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Deciduous Tree
  • layer: Canopy
  • habit: pyramidal canopy that becomes round
  • height (m): 25

Products & Uses

  • Flowers: Large, bloom high in the tree and are difficult to see which until they fall. Striking in appearance, the male flowers are clustered above the leaves and the female flowers are suspended below the leaves.
  • Seeds:  Hard, prickly, and complex fruit made up of seed capsules.  
  • Wood: The wood is used for furniture, flooring, fruit dishes, veneer
  • Leaves: The star shaped leaves are spectacular in autumn turning brilliant shades of scarlet, yellow, orange, or purple. 
  • Medicinal: Extensive history

Functions, behaviours

  • Hedgerow plant that will tolerate regular pruning 
  • The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods​
  • Can live up to 400 years
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project